Ryan Clark

Marriott takes Arizona IMCA Modified Tour finale, crown at Canyon Speedway Park

By Mike Spieker PEORIA, Ariz. (Feb. 17) – Hunter Marriott claimed the inaugural Arizona IMCA Modified Tour championship in style Friday night as he topped a 29-car field to win the 25-lap series finale. Marriott drove his way from the fourth starting position to capture his first $1,250 feature win of the tour. He was already on the ballot for the upcoming Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. “I really liked the car. We had some good runs and we’ve been trying hard all week. The races and tracks have been tough but we prevailed on this one,” said Marriott in victory lane. “I’m just thankful to be here.” Marriott used the second attempt at a lap nine restart to drive around the outside of Curt Lund to take the lead down the back straightaway. Once out front, Marriott withstood a couple late race restarts, holding off Cody Laney and Lucas Schott, to become the sixth different winner in as many races. “I saw Lucas get up [to the outside] once before and [Lund] slowed up going [Read More]

And then there were five: Wilson becomes 5th different Arizona IMCA Modified Tour winner

By Mike Spieker PEORIA, Ariz. (Feb. 16) – The outstanding parity of the inaugural Arizona IMCA Modified Tour continued Thursday at Canyon Speedway Park as Spencer Wilson became the fifth different winner in as many nights. Seventy-one IMCA Modifieds were checked in for the first of two nights at the Peoria, Ariz. one-third mile dirt oval. Wilson netted $1,250 for the victory along with spot on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. After getting by Ryan Roath on lap two, Wilson took command of the race lead and set sail. At the midpoint of the race, Wilson had amassed a three second advantage over second-running Jimmy Gustin and looked to have the race in hand. However, Wilson encountered heavy traffic in the latter stages of the race, which allowed Gustin to erase Wilson’s huge lead in a matter of a few laps. With Gustin all over his rear bumper in the closing laps, Wilson made a quick and definitive move to get by a lapped car, which ultimately sealed the win for him. “I knew [Read More]

Feature

Ryan Roath: Racing With Purpose, Fueled by the Coast Guard’s Call

By Ben Deatherage KAMRAR, Iowa (Apr. 28, 2025) — Some race for trophies. Some race for adrenaline. Ryan Roath will be racing for something more this summer—a tribute to the U.S. Coast Guard, the branch that brought closure to his family after tragedy struck in 2018. That year, Roath’s life changed forever when his mother, Sandi Rader, was lost at sea while sailing her 53-foot ketch sailboat YachtCruz. She had acquired the boat in Florida and spent years cruising through the Caribbean and Panama. After the birth of her first granddaughter Parker, Sandi set sail for port in Chula Vista, California before getting to Arizona to meet her. But on January 7, 2018, she encountered a severe storm about 50 miles south of Ensenada, Mexico. The Mexican Navy received the initial distress signal and conducted a search without success. They then contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, who launched a 3,200-nautical mile search over several days. Eventually, they located the remains of his mother, bringing a measure of closure to an unthinkable loss. “I was sitting at work [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Hagen Outduels Wolla for Nodak Modified Glory

By Ben Deatherage MINOT, N.D. (Apr. 26, 2025) — A rare Saturday night show kicked off the 2025 season at Nodak Speedway, and the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds delivered an instant classic on the 3/8-mile “Playground of Power” at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. Marcus Tomlinson and Justin Medler battled for the early advantage, with Tomlinson edging ahead after lap one. The six-time defending North Dakota State champion and 2022 Nodak track king looked strong before a restart brought two-time North Dakota State champion and 2017 IMCA national titlist Jason Wolla into the mix. Wolla muscled his way to the front by lap five, with Travis Hagen soon entering the fray. What followed was a family affair as Wolla and Hagen — brothers-in-law off the track — staged a thrilling duel on it. Hagen, a former Nodak champion and eight-time Williston Basin Speedway titleholder, applied steady pressure and began drawing even with eight laps remaining. The pair traded sliders and crossovers before Hagen finally gained the upper hand with a bold move coming to the high-raised [Read More]

Modified

Moore Outduels Blood in Wild Grays Harbor Modified Thriller

By Shaun Hulbert ELMA, Wash. (Apr. 26, 2025) — Craig Moore of Seabeck led all 25 laps of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event at Grays Harbor Raceway, but to earn his first win of the 2025 season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region was anything but easy. Moore took command at the drop of the green, quickly distancing himself from Scott Miller while the action behind was absolute chaos. The race from third through eighth went two- and even three-wide early on, as Tyson Blood carved his way forward from the 10th starting position. After a pair of early cautions, Austin Rognlin powered into second and Blood cracked the top three. The trio went to war on the ensuing restart, with four-wide battles breaking out behind them in a showcase of edge-of-your-seat racing. A third yellow with 14 laps to go set the stage for the moment of the night: Blood used the restart to sling past Moore in turn one, but Moore kept his foot planted, ripped the cushion, and crossed over [Read More]